Eating Local

A couple years ago I read the book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver.  I fell in love with the idea of trying to eat more locally and in-season.  I was thrilled last spring when I learned of a farm down that road that had Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) shares available.  We came up with the money needed and picked up a box of fresh, local produce every week from the end of May through the beginning of August.

I wasn't completely satisfied that it wasn't a CSA like I had read about....where you can exchange work in the gardens for produce.  I also would have loved to have organic produce.

Since then a fresh, local market has been set up by a couple in town.  They work to find local, organic vendors and get them all together for a weekly market year-round.  I haven't made it out to one of the markets yet but am hoping to this week!

This year we'll be participating in their Spring CSA.  In exchange for 6 hours/month of our time we will get a small box of organic, local produce each week.  The kids and I will be helping to deliver boxes to other families (who wish to pay for their produce with $ instead of time) two evenings a month March-June.  On the weeks we don't deliver, our produce will be delivered to us.  Devica is even considering each volunteers location so that gas consumption can be limited!

I'm excited about the fresh produce (we LOVE fresh fruit/veggies in the Spring and Summer) and the savings!

Check out www.localharvest.org for more information about CSAs in your area.